CHAPTER IX.
GAMBLING IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims, In all Times and
Countries, especially in England and in France | ||
9.
CHAPTER IX.
GAMBLING IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT is not surprising that a people so intensely speculative, excitable, and eager as the Americans, should be desperately addicted to gambling. Indeed, the spirit of gambling has incessantly pervaded all their operations, political, commercial, and social.[85] It is but one of the manifestations of that thorough license arrogated to itself by the nation, finding its true expression in the American maxim recorded by Mr Hepworth Dixon, so coarsely worded, but so significant, — `Every man
Although laws similar to those of England are enacted in America against gambling, it may be said to exist everywhere, but, of course, to the greatest extent in the vicinity of the fashionable quarters of the large cities. In New York there is scarcely a street without its gambling house — `private,' of course, but well known to those who indulge in the vice. The ordinary public game is Faro.
High and low, rich and poor, are perfectly suited in their requirements; whilst at some places the stakes are unlimited, at others they must not exceed one dollar, and a player may wager as low as five cents, or twopence-halfpenny. These are for the accommodation of the very poorest workmen, discharged soldiers, broken-down gamblers, and street-boys.
`I think,' says a recent writer,[87] `of all the street-boys in the world, those of New York are the most precocious. I have seen a shoe-black, about
The chief gambling houses of New York were established by men
who are American celebrities, and among these the most prominent have
been Pat Hern and John Morrissey.
PAT HERN.
Some years ago this celebrated Irishman kept up a splendid establishment in Broadway, near Hauston Street. At that time his house was the centre of attraction towards which `all the world' gravitated, and did the thing right grandly — combining the Apicius with the Beau Nash or Brummell. He was profusely lavish with his wines and exuberant in his suppers; and it was generally said that the game in action there, Faro, was played in all fairness. Pat Hern was a man of jovial disposition and genial wit, and would have adorned a better position. During the trout-fishing season he used to visit a well-known place called Islip in Long Island, much frequented by gentlemen devoted to angling and fond of good living.
At Islip the equally renowned Oby Snedecker kept the tavern which was the resort of Pat Hern and his companions. It had attached to it a stream and lake to which the gentlemen who had the privilege of the house were admitted. Mrs Obadiah Snedecker, the buxom wife of `mine host,' was famous for the exquisite way in which she cooked veal cutlets. There were two niggers in the establishment, named Steve and Dick, who accompanied the gentlemen in their angling excursions, amusing them with their stolidity and the enormous quantity of gin they could imbibe without being more than normally fuddled.
After fishing, the gentlemen used to take to gambling at the usual
French games; but here Pat Hern appeared not in the character of
gambler, but as a private gentleman. He was always well received by
the visitors, and caused them many a hearty laugh with his overflowing
humour. He died about nine years ago, I think tolerably well off.
JOHN MORRISSEY.
John Morrissey was originally a prize-fighter, — having fought with Heenan and also with Yankee
Morrissey's gambling house is in Union Square, and is said to be magnificently furnished and distinguished by the most princely hospitality. At all hours of the day or night tables are laid out with every description of refreshment, to which all who visit the place are welcome.
This is a remarkable feature in the American system. At all `Bars,' or public-houses, you find
Almost every game of chance is played at this establishment, and the stakes are very high and unlimited. The visitors are the wealthy and wild young men of New York, and occasionally a Southern-looking man who, perhaps, has saved some of his property, being still the same professional gambler; for it may be affirmed that all the Southern planters were addicted to gambling.
`The same flocks of well-dressed and fashionable-looking men of all ages pass in and out all through the day and night; tens of thousands of dollars are lost and won; the “click&” of the markers never ceases; all speak in a low tone; everything has a serious, quiet appearance. The dealers seem to know every one, and nod familiarly to all who approach their tables. John Morrissey is occasionally to be seen, walking through the rooms, apparently a disinterested spectator. He is a short, thick-set man, of about 40 years, dark complexion, and wears a long beard, dresses in a slovenly manner, and walks with a swagger. Now and then he approaches the table; makes a few bets, and is then lost in the crowd.'[89]
OTHER GAMING-HOUSES.
The same writer furnishes other very interesting facts.
`After the opera-house and theatres are closed, Morrissey's gambling house becomes very full; in fact, the best time to see it to advantage is about two or three o'clock in the morning.
`A little below the New York Hotel, and on the opposite side of Broadway, there is a gambling house, not quite so “respectable&” as the one I have been describing; here the stakes are not below a dollar, and not more than twenty-five; there are no refreshments gratis, and the rooms are not so well furnished. The men to be seen gaming in this house differ but very little in appearance from those in Union Square, but there seems to be less discipline amongst them, and more noise and confusion. It is a rare thing to see an intoxicated man in a gambling house; the door-keepers are very particular as to whom they admit, and any disturbance which might call for the interference of the police would be ruinous to their business. The police are undoubtedly aware of everything going on in these houses, and do not interfere as long as everything goes on quietly.
`Now and then a clerk spends his employer's money, and if it is discovered where he lost it then a *raid is made by the police in force, the tables and all the gaming paraphernalia are carried off, and the proprietors heavily fined.
`I witnessed a case of this: a young man in the employment of a commission merchant appropri
`In the gambling house in Broadway, near the New York Hotel, I have often noticed a young man, apparently of some 18 or 20 years of age, fashionably dressed, and of prepossessing appearance. On some days he would play very high, and seemed to have most remarkable luck; but he always played with the air of an old gamester, seeming careless as to whether he won or lost. One night he lost so heavily that he attracted the notice of all the players; every stake of his was swept away; and he still played on until his last dollar was lost; then he quietly walked out, whis
`The mania for gambling is a most singular one. I have known a man to win a thousand dollars in a few hours, and yet he would not s-pend a dollar to get a dinner, but when he felt hungry he went to a baker's shop and bought a loaf of bread, and that same night lost all his money at Roulette.
`There is another house on the corner of Centre and Grand Streets, open during night and day. The stakes here are the same as in the one in Broadway, and the people who play are very much the same — in fact, the same faces are constantly to be met with in all the gambling houses, from the highest to the lowest. When a gambler has but small capital, he will go to a small house, where small stakes are admissible. I saw a man win 50 or 60 dollars at this place, and then hand in his checks (markers) to be cashed. The dealer handed
`In No. 102, in the Bowery, there is one of the lowest of the gaming houses I have seen in the Empire city. The proprietor is an Irishman; he employs three men as dealers, and they relieve one another every four hours during the day and night. The stakes here are of the lowest, and the people to be seen here of the roughest to be found in the city. The game is Faro, as elsewhere.
`In this place I met an old friend with whom I had served in the army of Northern Virginia, under General Lee, in his Virginia campaign of 1865. He told me he had been in New York
`It is amusing to watch the proprietor of this place at the Bowery; he has a joke for every one he sees. “Hallo, old sport!&” he cries, “come and try your luck — you look lucky this evening; and if you make a good run you may sport a gold watch and chain, and a velvet vest, like myself.&” Then to another, “Young clear-the-way, you look down at the mouth to-night! Come along and have a turn — and never mind your supper tonight.' In this way the days and nights are passed in those gambling houses.'
There is also in New York an association for the prevention of gambling. The society employs detectives to visit the gambling saloons, and procure evidence for the suppression of the establishments.
It is the business of these agents also to ascertain the names and
occupations of those who frequent the gambling rooms, and a list of the
persons thus detected is sent periodically to the subscribers to the
society, that they may know who are the persons wasting their money, or
perhaps the money of their employers, in gambling. Many large houses
of business subscribe. In the month of August the society's agents
detected among the gamblers 68 clerks of mercantile houses, and in the
previous six months reported 623 cases. It is stated that there are in
New York and Brooklyn 1017 policy and lottery offices, and 163 Faro
banks, and that their net annual gains are not less than 36,000,000
dollars.
AMERICAN GAMBLERS.
At American gambling houses `it is very easy,' says the same writer, `to distinguish the professional from the ordinary gambler. The latter
`Previous to the struggle for independence in the South, there were many hundreds of gamblers scattered through the Southern towns, and the Mississippi steam-boats used to abound with them. In the South, a gambler was regarded as outside the pale of society, and classed with the slave-trader, who was looked upon with loathing by the very same men who traded with him; such was the inconsistency of public opinion.
`The American gambler differs from his European brethren in many respects. He is very frequently, in education, appearance, and manner, a gentleman, and if his private history were known, it would be found that he was of good birth, and was at one time possessed of considerable fortune; but having lost all at the gambling table, he gradually came down to the level of those who
`On one occasion I met a brother of a Southern General (very famous in the late war and still a wealthy man) who, at one time, was one of the richest planters in the State of Louisiana, and is now acting as an agent for a set of gamblers to their gaming houses. After losing everything he had, he became a croupier to a gambling house in New Orleans, and afterwards plied his trade on the Mississippi for some years; then he went into Mexico, and finally to New York, where he opened a house on his own account.
`During the war he speculated in “greenbacks,&” and lost all his ill-gotten gains, and had to descend to his present position.'[90]
AMERICAN GAMES: — DRAW POKER, OR BLUFF.
Draw Poker, or Bluff, is a favourite game with the Americans. It is played by any number of persons, from four to seven; four, five, or six players are preferred; seven are only engaged
The deal is usually determined by fixing on a card, and dealing round, face upwards, until such card appears. The dealer then places in the pool an Antè, or certain agreed-upon sum, and proceeds to deal to each person five cards. The player next to the dealer, before looking at his cards, has the option of staking a certain sum. This is called the `blind,' and makes him the elder hand, or last player; and when his turn comes round he can, by giving up his first stake, withdraw from the game, or, if he pleases, by making good any sum staked by a previous player, raise the stakes to any sum he pleases, provided, of course, that no limit has been fixed before sitting down. The privilege of raising or doubling on the blind may be exercised by any one round the table, provided he has not looked at his cards. If no intervening player has met the original blind, that is, staked double the sum, this must be done by all who wish to play, and, of course, must be made good by the last player. Each person then looks at his cards, and decides on his plan of action. It should be understood that every one, except the blind, may
The game of Pokers differs from the one just described, in so far
that the players receive only the original five cards dealt without drawing
fresh ones, and must either play or refuse on them. In this game, as
there are more cards, as many as ten persons can play.
LANSQUENET.[91]
Lansquenet is much played by the Americans, and is one of the most exciting games in vogue.
The dealer or banker stakes a certain sum, and this must be met by the nearest to the dealer first, and so on. When the stake is met, the dealer turns up two cards, one to the right, — the latter for himself, the former for the table or the players. He then keeps on turning up the cards until either of the cards is matched, which constitutes the winning, — as, for instance, suppose the five of diamonds is his card, then should the five of any other suit turn up, he wins. If he loses, then the next
When the dealer's card turns up, he may take the stake and pass the bank; or he may allow the stake to remain, whereat of course it becomes doubled if met. He can continue thus as long as the cards turn up in his favour — having the option at any moment of giving up the bank and retiring for that time. If he does that, the player to whom he passes the bank has the option of continuing it at the same amount at which it was left. The pool may be made up by contributions of all the players in certain proportions. The terms used respecting the standing of the stake are, `I'll see' (à moi le tout) and Je tiens. When jumelle (twins), or the turning up of similar cards on both sides, occurs, then the dealer takes half the stake.
Sometimes there is a run of several consecutive winnings; but on one occasion, on board one of the Cunard steamers, a banker at the game turned up in his own favour I think no less than eighteen times. The original stake was only six-pence; but had each stake been met as won, the final doubling would have amounted to the immense sum of
- 1st turn up
- 0
- 0
- 6
- 10th turn up
- 12
- 16
- 0
- 2nd
- ,,
- 0
- 1
- 0
- 11th
- ,,
- 25
- 12
- 0
- 3rd
- ,,
- 0
- 2
- 0
- 12th
- ,,
- 51
- 4
- 0
- 4th
- ,,
- 0
- 4
- 0
- 13th
- ,,
- 102
- 8
- 0
- 5th
- ,,
- 0
- 8
- 0
- 14th
- ,,
- 204
- 16
- 0
- 6th
- ,,
- 0
- 16
- 0
- 15th
- ,,
- 409
- 12
- 0
- 7th
- ,,
- 1
- 12
- 0
- 16th
- ,,
- 819
- 4
- 0
- 8th
- ,,
- 3
- 4
- 0
- 17th
- ,,
- 1,618
- 8
- 0
- 9th
- ,,
- 6
- 8
- 0
- 18th
- ,,
- 3,236
- 16
- 0
£s. d. £ s.d.
In fair play, as this is represented to have been, such a long sequence of matches must be considered very remarkable, although six or seven is not unfrequent.
Unfortunately, however, there is a very easy means by which card sharpers manage the thing to perfection. They prepare beforehand a series of a dozen cards arranged as follows: —
- 1st Queen
- 6th Nine
- 2nd Queen
- 7th Nine
- 3rd Ten
- 8th Ace
- 4th Seven
- 9th Eight
- 5th Ten
- 10th Ace
Series thus arranged are placed in side pockets outside the waistcoat, just under the left breast. When the sharper becomes banker he leans negligently over the table, and in this position his fingers are as close as possible to the prepared cards, termed portées. At the proper moment he seizes the cards and places them on the pack. The trick is rendered very easy by the fact that the card-sharper has his coat buttoned at the top, so that the lower part of it lies open and permits the introduction of the hand, which is completely masked.
Some sharpers are skilful enough to take up some of the matches already dealt, which they place in their costières, or side-pockets above described, in readiness for their next operation; others keep them skilfully hidden in their hand, to lay them, at the convenient moment, upon the pack of cards. By this means, the pack is not augmented.[92]
In France the stakes commence at 5 francs; and it may be easily imagined how soon vast sums of money may change hands if the players are determined and reckless.
This is also a game much played in the States. I suppose it is a Yankee invention, named by one of their learned professors, from the Greek eüceis (eucheir), meaning `well in the hand ' or `strong' — a very appropriate designation of the game, which is as follows: —
In this game all the cards are excluded up to the sixes, — seven being the lowest in the Euchre pack. Five cards are dealt out, after the usual shuffling and cutting, with a turn-up, or trump. The dealer has the privilege of discarding one of his cards and taking up the trump — not showing, however, the one he discards. The Knave is the best card in the game — a peculiar Yankee `notion.' The Knave of trumps is called the Right Bower, and the other Knave of the same colour is the Left Bower. Hence it appears that the nautical propensity of this great people is therein represented — `bower' being in fact a sheet anchor. If both are held, it is evident that the point of the deal is decided — since it results from taking three tricks out of the five; for, of course, the trump card appropriated by the dealer will, most probably,
Some of the games played by the Americans are peculiar to themselves. For instance, vast sums of money change hands over Fly Loo, or the attraction existing between lumps of sugar and adventurous flies! This game is not without its excitement. The gamblers sit round a table, each with a lump of sugar before him, and the player upon whose lump a fly first perches carries off the pool — which is sometimes enormous.
They tell an anecdote of a 'cute Yankee, who won invariably and immensely at the game. There seemed to be a sort of magical or mesmeric attraction for the flies to his lump. At length it was as-certained that he touched the lump with his finger, after having smeared it with something that naturally and irresistibly attracts flies whenever they can get at it. I am told that this game is also played in England; if so, the parties must insist upon fresh lumps of sugar, and prevent all touching.
The reader will probably ask — what next will gamblers think of betting on? But I can tell of a still more curious source of gambling infatuation. In the Oxford Magazine,[93] is the following statement: —
`A few days ago, as some sprigs of nobility were dining together
at a tavern, they took the following conceit into their heads after dinner.
One of them observing a maggot come from a filbert, which seemed to
be uncommonly large, attempted to get it from his companion, who, not
choosing to let it go, was immediately offered five guineas for it, which
was accepted. He then proposed to run it against any other two maggots
that could be produced at table. Matches were accordingly made, and
these poor reptiles were the means of £500 being won and lost in
a few minutes!'
THE CRIMES OF AMERICAN GAMBLERS.
Suicides, duels, and murders have frequently resulted from gambling here as elsewhere. Many of the duels in dark rooms originate in disputes at the gaming table. The combatants rush from play to an upper or adjoining room, and settle their
One of these was a serio-comic affair which is perhaps worth relating. Two players had a gambling dispute, and resolved to settle it in a dark room with pistols. The door was locked and one of them fired, but missed. On this the other exclaimed — `Now, you rascal, I'll finish you at my leisure.' He then began to search for his opponent. Three or four times he walked stealthily round the room — but all in vain — he could not find his man; he listened; he could not hear him breathe. What had become of him? `Oh!' at length he exclaimed — `Now I've got you, you — — sneak — here goes!' `Hold! Hold!' cried a voice from the chimney, `Don't fire! I'll pay you anything. — Do take away that — — pistol.' In effect his adversary held the muzzle of his pistol close to the seat of honour as the fellow stood stuffed up the chimney!
`You'll pay, will you?' said the former; `Very well — 800 dollars --is 't a bargain?'
`Yes, yes!' gasped the voice in the chimney.
`Very well,' rejoined the tormentor, `but just wait a bit; I must have a voucher. I'll just cut off the bottom of your breeches by way of voucher.'
`Now get down,' he said, `and out with the money;' which was paid, when the above-named voucher was returned to the chimney-groper.
The town of Vicksburg, on the Mississippi, was formerly notorious as the rendezvous of all sorts of desperadoes. It was a city of men; you saw no women, except at night; and never any children. Vicksburg was a sink of iniquity; and there gambling raged with unrestricted fury. It was always after touching at Vicksburg that the Mississippi boats became the well-known scene of gambling — some of the Vicksburghers invariably getting on board to ply their profession.
On one occasion, one of these came on board, and soon induced some of the passengers to proceed to the upper promenade-deck for gambling. Soon the stakes increased and a heap of gold was on the table, when a dispute arose, in the midst of which one of the players placed his hand on the stake. Thereupon the Vicksburg gambler drew his knife and plunged it into the hand of the former, with a terrible imprecation.
Throughout the Southern States, as before
A planter went to a gambling house, accompanied by one of his negroes, whom he left at the door to wait his return. Whilst the master was gambling the slave did the same with another whom he found at the door. Meanwhile a Mexican came up and stood by looking at the game of the negroes. By-and-by one of them accused the other of cheating, which was denied, when the Mexican interposed and told the negro that he saw him cheat. The latter told the Mexican that he lied — whereupon the Mexican stabbed him to the heart, killing him on the spot.
Soon the negro's master came out, and on being informed of the affair, turned to the Mexican, saying — `Now, sir, we must settle the matter between us — my negro's quarrel is mine.' `Agreed,' said the Mexican; they entered the house, proceeded to a dark room, fired at each other, and both were killed.
About six and twenty years ago there lived in New York a well-to-do merchant, of the name of Osborne, who had an only son, who was a partner in the concern. The young man fell in love with
On the return of the planter and his daughter, young Osborne accompanied them to Mobile. On the very night of their arrival, the planter proposed to his intended son-in-law to visit the gaming table. They went; Osborne was unlucky; and after some hours' play lost an immense amount to the father of his sweetheart. He gave bills, drawn on his house, in payment of the debt of honour.
On the following morning the planter referred to the subject, hinting that Osborne must be ruined.
`Indeed, I am!' said the young man; `but the possession of your daughter will console me for the calamity, which, I doubt not, I shall be able to make up for by industry and exertion.'
`The possession of *my daughter?' exclaimed the planter; `do you think I would marry my daughter to a beggar? No, no, sir, the affair is ended between you — and I insist upon its being utterly broken off.' Such was the action of the heartless gambler, rendered callous to all sentiments of real honour by his debasing pursuit.
Young Osborne was equal to the occasion. Summoning all his powers to manfully bear this additional shock of fate, he calmly replied: —
`So be it, sir, as you wish it. Depend upon it, however, that my bills will be duly honoured' — and so saying he bowed and departed, without even wishing to take leave of his betrothed.
On returning to New York Osborne immediately disclosed the transaction to his father, who, in spite of the utter ruin which impended, and the brutality of the cause of the ruin, resolved to meet the bills when due, and maintain the honour of his son — whatever might be the consequences to himself.
The bills were paid; the concern was broken up; old Mr Osborne soon died broken-hearted; and young Osborne went as clerk to some house of business in Wall Street.
A year or so passed away, and one day a lady presented herself at the old house of Osborne — now no longer theirs — inquiring for young Osborne. She was directed to his new place of business; being no other than his betrothed, who loved him as passionately as ever, and to whom her father had accounted for the non-fulfilment of the
[85] In the American correspondence of the Morning Advertiser, Feb. 6, 1868, the writer says: — `It was only yesterday (Jan. 24) that an eminent American merchant of this city (New York) said, in referring to the state of affairs — “we are socially, politically, and commercially demoralized.&” '
[86] `Spiritual Wives.' — A work the extraordinary disclosures of which tend to show that a similar spirit, destined, perhaps, to bring about the greatest social changes, is gaining ground elsewhere than in America.
CHAPTER IX.
GAMBLING IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims, In all Times and
Countries, especially in England and in France | ||